Hip Guide to South Africa

South Africa has been inhabited by humans for over 170,000 years, Europeans discovered the area in 1487, led by Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias. The Dutch colonized the area beginning in 1652, and held it until the British drove them out in 1806. The discovery of diamonds in 1867 and gold in 1884 led to the so-called 'Mineral Revolution' whereby the British, Boers and indigenous tribes began to fight over the resources. In 1910 the Union of South Africa was founded as a dominion of the United Kingdom, and in 1931 achieved full independence. The country was run under the system of 'apartheid' or separation of blacks and whites, with the whites ruling the country until 1994 when the policy was abandoned and Nelson Mandala become president.

Whether you come for a quick visit or extended tour, you will find a wealth of information about destinations here. The Hip Guide to South Africa offers the highlights of the country, and contains many tips for making your stay here more rewarding.

The Hip Guide to South Africa is your source for hotel reservations, tourist information, events, reviews, shopping and much more. Don't forget to visit our South Africa Photo Gallery! Bookmark this site, and visit whenever you need to find out what's happening in South Africa.

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